The sound coming from the Tories’ Eastleigh camp today was not of music, but of the leader ranting at the latest gaffe by his by-election candidate.

David Cameron appeared to be fuming after Maria Hutchings turned down an invitation to be quizzed by voters on a BBC Radio 5 Live hustings show.

The rattled PM lashed out at the Beeb as his latest attempt to avoid a humiliating defeat in Hampshire was marred by claims the candidate was “in hiding”.

The local Liberal Democrats did not improve Mr Cameron’s mood by creating a “missing” poster mocking Ms ­Hutchings’ no-show and suggesting she was being kept under strict control after she rubbished state schools last week.

Tory chiefs claimed the right-winger – who has also spoken out against ­abortion, Europe and gay marriage – was unable to attend because she was with the PM on the campaign trail.

But the two events were 45 minutes apart and other parties said the BBC had given eight days’ notice of the live show.

Where is she? Lib Dems poster

Furious Mr Cameron turned on a BBC reporter who pointed out he had been able to attend both events when he arrived in the constituency, where Chris Huhne was MP before he was forced to quit in disgrace.

In another of his infamous “Flashman” outbursts, the PM said: “You were a bit late.”

And Mr Cameron ranted: “Maria has done hustings all over the constituency. I think the BBC has behaved badly and stupidly over this.”

Asked whether the Tories were “hiding” Ms Hutchings he added: “We’re not hiding her away, she’s right here.”

Opponents saw the PM’s angry remarks as a clear sign of nerves ahead of polling next Thursday.

Opinion polls show the Conservatives trailing by up to 10 points behind their Coalition partners.

Ms Hutchings sparked outrage last week by declaring that local state schools would not be good enough to help her “gifted” son become a surgeon.

Labour rival John O’Farrell joked that Ms Hutchings was, “Probably locked in a cupboard at Tory HQ with tape on her mouth” to avoid further gaffes.